Soil retaining wall
Discussion
Basically, our back garden slopes down maybe 4 foot from the top to bottom. The length of the garden is probable around 35ft with the first 10ft or so being flat before a steepish drop then a slight gradient over the rest of the garden.
After the first 10ft, i want to put in some sort of soil retaining wall (about 2.5ft high) and some steps so that we have two totally flat levels.
See my technical drawing below:
Whats the best and cheapest way to build this? I was thinking maybe some sort of old sleepers?
The wall will be approximately 2.5-3.0ft high and approximately 20ft wide.
TIA.
After the first 10ft, i want to put in some sort of soil retaining wall (about 2.5ft high) and some steps so that we have two totally flat levels.
See my technical drawing below:
Whats the best and cheapest way to build this? I was thinking maybe some sort of old sleepers?
The wall will be approximately 2.5-3.0ft high and approximately 20ft wide.
TIA.
It really depends on how you want it to look when its finished. Sleepers are expensive and will eventually rot as the water will build up behind it. Concrete blocks will do the job and then these can be rendered or painted. A 9" brick finish will looks nice but not cheap. The nicest would be a sandstone wall but again expensive. Are you pitting steps up through the middle?
Can i jump on this thread and ask a simular question?
We have a ditch running the length of our land, with only a small back garden (around 35ft sq) the ditch is taking up an extra 15 ft that we would like to reclaim.
Does anyone know the most cost effective way of giving the ditch vertical sides, leaving just 1-2 ft in the middle of the ditch for the water to run through?
We will then want to deck over this reduced gap so the ditch is invisable and no longer a hazard to anyone young (or if drunk, old!)
Note the enviromental agency will not allow us to pipe and fill it
Sorry for the hijack,
We have a ditch running the length of our land, with only a small back garden (around 35ft sq) the ditch is taking up an extra 15 ft that we would like to reclaim.
Does anyone know the most cost effective way of giving the ditch vertical sides, leaving just 1-2 ft in the middle of the ditch for the water to run through?
We will then want to deck over this reduced gap so the ditch is invisable and no longer a hazard to anyone young (or if drunk, old!)
Note the enviromental agency will not allow us to pipe and fill it
Sorry for the hijack,
TheD said:
I would build it then with concrete blocks (grunters) if you want the cheapest option. They can be 12 x 12, 12 x 9 etc. Remember also to leave weepies. These are holes or gaps in the wall to let any water 'weep' through. A foundation of around 15" x 6" should be fine
You think a 6" deep foundation would be enough for this wall? I was expecting about 12".Thanks for your help.
Matt.
TheD said:
It really depends on how you want it to look when its finished. Sleepers are expensive and will eventually rot as the water will build up behind it. Concrete blocks will do the job and then these can be rendered or painted. A 9" brick finish will looks nice but not cheap. The nicest would be a sandstone wall but again expensive. Are you pitting steps up through the middle?
I build a low retaining wall from sleepers alongside the footpath in my from garden, they were £15 each delivered from a local place. As for rotting I think I'll be gone before they are. They're redwood and they guy who delivered tham said they came from Belgium and were already about 50 years old. I give them a coat of creocote and used engine oil every so often and they come up a treat.To cut them I used a circular saw. This didn't go right through but the bit it left joined in the centre was easy to cut with a sharp handsaw.
GreenDog said:
TheD said:
It really depends on how you want it to look when its finished. Sleepers are expensive and will eventually rot as the water will build up behind it. Concrete blocks will do the job and then these can be rendered or painted. A 9" brick finish will looks nice but not cheap. The nicest would be a sandstone wall but again expensive. Are you pitting steps up through the middle?
I build a low retaining wall from sleepers alongside the footpath in my from garden, they were £15 each delivered from a local place. As for rotting I think I'll be gone before they are. They're redwood and they guy who delivered tham said they came from Belgium and were already about 50 years old. I give them a coat of creocote and used engine oil every so often and they come up a treat.To cut them I used a circular saw. This didn't go right through but the bit it left joined in the centre was easy to cut with a sharp handsaw.
Marshalls do a build it yourself walling called Croft Stone that is designed as a low retaining wall. No mortar is used, they have a lip at the back that catches on the block below. As they are wedge shaped, you can easily do curves, if you want. They are not mortared together, so they can be dismantled and used elsewhere if required.
They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Stupeo said:
How do you secure these in the ground though? If i was to build a wall out of them which would be maybe 4-5 sleepers high how do you secure them in the ground?
In my case the wall was only 3 sleepers high so this wasn't so much of an issue but I used some tanlised (sp ?) fenceposts down the back of the sleepers to joint them. As your wall will be higher you might have to concrete the posts in place to make them more secure.mrmaggit said:
Marshalls do a build it yourself walling called Croft Stone that is designed as a low retaining wall. No mortar is used, they have a lip at the back that catches on the block below. As they are wedge shaped, you can easily do curves, if you want. They are not mortared together, so they can be dismantled and used elsewhere if required.
They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Would this be ok for my needs, ie lining a ditch on either side to give vertical sides? It is strong enough not to collapse under the pressure of the soil?They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Also, what are the costs of these things?
Edited by satans worm on Tuesday 30th June 11:37
mrmaggit said:
Marshalls do a build it yourself walling called Croft Stone that is designed as a low retaining wall. No mortar is used, they have a lip at the back that catches on the block below. As they are wedge shaped, you can easily do curves, if you want. They are not mortared together, so they can be dismantled and used elsewhere if required.
They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Sounds ideal! Any idea how much these are?They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Matt.
Stupeo said:
mrmaggit said:
Marshalls do a build it yourself walling called Croft Stone that is designed as a low retaining wall. No mortar is used, they have a lip at the back that catches on the block below. As they are wedge shaped, you can easily do curves, if you want. They are not mortared together, so they can be dismantled and used elsewhere if required.
They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Sounds ideal! Any idea how much these are?They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Matt.
It's up to you if you think that the world will collapse if you build them 8 courses high or could you modify your design?
Porcupine's are more heavuy duty but the price may reflect this:
http://www.armortec.co.uk/downloads/Porcupine.pdf
satans worm said:
mrmaggit said:
Marshalls do a build it yourself walling called Croft Stone that is designed as a low retaining wall. No mortar is used, they have a lip at the back that catches on the block below. As they are wedge shaped, you can easily do curves, if you want. They are not mortared together, so they can be dismantled and used elsewhere if required.
They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Would this be ok for my needs, ie lining a ditch on either side to give vertical sides? It is strong enough not to collapse under the pressure of the soil?They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Also, what are the costs of these things?
Edited by satans worm on Tuesday 30th June 11:37
They are designed to be a retaining wall, so will hold normal loading soil back. However, in your case, my concern would be the stream scouring out the base causing collapsing problems, not the soil loading. Marshalls Technical 0845-411-2233 will be able to advise.
Stupeo said:
mrmaggit said:
Marshalls do a build it yourself walling called Croft Stone that is designed as a low retaining wall. No mortar is used, they have a lip at the back that catches on the block below. As they are wedge shaped, you can easily do curves, if you want. They are not mortared together, so they can be dismantled and used elsewhere if required.
They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Sounds ideal! Any idea how much these are?They are also not critical on being level either. I've just used some in my back garden to retain a five-foot bank (only retaining the lower couple of feet, the rest slopes gently upwards), and the slowest bit is getting them from the pallet to the job. They are out of level by maybe three inches in twelve feet, but as it goes round some trees you can't tell!
Matt.
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